Local artist and Art Bloc Sausalito owner Rachael Staudt has a storied background in the arts, community-building, and businesses built on creative ingenuity. She has had previous stints in life working as a data analyst and strives to integrate her creative, analytical, and business selves into one.

How did your creative life lead you to The Art Bloc Sausalito?

I think it’s a combination of experiences. I really value the importance of community, and I was part of the ICB in Sausalito. When I was there, I had a small but really present community around me just by being there to support one another. I really wanted to find my own space and be on my own, and after the pandemic, I realized how important creative coworking spaces are for me as an artist. And I know it’s important for other artists as well. In the last few years, so many of us have realized how much more we need one another in the arts world. I’m also obsessed with the idea of literary and social salons, of gathering together to share life, and with bringing back spaces where community members can share who they are and what they love in the world. There aren’t many spaces anymore for that to happen, so I wanted to provide that for my community here.

What’s a formative artistic experience you had growing up? How does that show up for you in your work?

A couple things: taking art classes at university, and one in particular where we were working on a Chuck Close exercise. Our professor was really trying to get us to follow along, and instead of a proper grid as instructed, I just started making different shapes and forms. The professor held up my work and said to the class, “Everyone, look here: this is what you should not do.” We struggled against one another throughout my time there from that point on, and I struggled personally navigating competing creative impulses and feeling like my own work was so delicate. Ironically, that professor later became my advisor and mentor. And through that relationship and my time there, I learned to be less precious, to give myself and others grace, time, and honesty in how I support and feel supported.

What do you hope visitors to Art Bloc Sausalito will see, feel, hear, or think while they’re here?

I hope they feel spaciousness and openness when they’re here. I always want people to feel welcomed and allowed to explore their creativity, like they are stepping outside of time and that someone else has done the work to create the conditions for you to pull out your materials and go. I want to remove barriers to entry. I’m here for guided meditation, not just a space to meditate in. A facilitator and an engaged support.

What’s your ideal creative playground to work in? What kind of space inspires you and helps you connect to your creative flow?

Large flat surfaces, lots and lots of tools and materials I have access to in one place. Just having a surface to get messy and get to work in. It takes a lot more discipline than I first thought in order to make the space inviting to creative processes. And a space with natural light.

I’m always grateful for a gallery. As a creative person, you’re always looking, you’re always looking for different ways to see the world. People will say that an artist’s job is to see in the world what nobody else is seeing, to pull on those deeper threads. I’m always very inspired to see what others are working on; it’s important to keep the work of others with you. Community spaces in any way, shape, or form are essential and always inspire me. It’s where cross-pollination happens. And going out away from town and into more wild spaces is really important to me. The spirit of place is an important part of my work, and I know that a space and sanctuary are 

What’s unique about this neighborhood? What’s the culture here like for artists? How does Art Bloc fit in here?

We’re in the working waterfront in Sausalito, which is one of the last working maritime areas on the west coast. It’s a mix of industrial work, maritime businesses, houseboat residences, and artists, makers, and creatives. There’s always a lot of really interesting things happening here—it’s got a rich history and a super creative culture I find inspiring and lucky to call home. It’s an established community, and there are businesses who have been here for decades. We’re a tight-knit community; my work with the Economic Council of Sausalito has been a great way to join a thriving business and arts community while tackling affordability issues, especially for creative spaces. It’s actually one of my primary motivating factors for The Art Bloc Sausalito.

How would you describe a peak creative experience you’ve had that you hope other artists and visitors to The Art Bloc Sausalito can have?

There’s the individual experience definitely—just letting it all go and seeing what sticks, not needing to be or do anything but letting instincts and technique take control. Having a creative space for someone to be able to do that is crucial to what we do. No distractions or obligations, fully in it. For me, I also facilitate creative workshops for small groups, and getting together to make and explore creativity is unlike anything else. One group had professional artists, first-timers, and people who used to create but hadn’t in a long time. I also work with kids and schools, which has been so energizing and fascinating—going from professionals to the open and electric energy that children have. Finding people to collaborate with in a space where anything is possible. I crave creating in those spaces, and I want others to feel the energy of that, too.

What will someone who books time at Art Bloc experience in their own work?

I think a loosening up, an ability to release the tension we hold around creative projects. Finding time to process what you’re trying to experience. A space to focus, to work on a skill, to breathe, letting go of everything needing to be some kind of culturally significant moment. It would be so nice to have a space for people to feel like they can express, can loosen, and see what they comes from them.